Marianne Gibbons Poulson

Marianne Gibbons Poulson, Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister and Aunt, died April 8, 2010, in Sandy, Utah. She was born Jan. 27, 1930, in Rexburg, Idaho, to Robert Gifford Gibbons and Mary Montella Parry Gibbons. Her mother died when she was 2 years old; four years later, her father married Ruth Lucille Baer of Providence, Utah. Marianne attended public schools in Idaho, Wyoming, Salt Lake City and Logan, Utah. She graduated from Utah State University in 1951 with a degree in English and business administration. She loved her four years at USU and was active in Alpha Sigma Nu and Alpha Chi Omega, serving after graduation as province president and state rush chairman. She was also ROTC sponsor colonel which fostered her love of military life.
Following graduation, she taught English at Granite and Olympus High Schools in Salt Lake City. During this time she met a young Air Force pilot, J. Golden Poulson; they were married in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on May 25, 1954. As the wife of an Air Force pilot, she loved traveling and meeting new people, many of whom became lifelong friends. She always made a wonderful home for her family in Texas; Florida; California; Washington; Virginia; North Dakota; Utah; Paris, France; and London, England.
She was a substitute teacher in several states during her husband's career and took graduate courses to renew her teaching credentials at the University of Utah, University of Maryland, Texas Tech and Alliance Francaise, Paris, France.
The Poulsons retired to Logan in 1975. Marianne remained active in civic affairs; she was a charter member of USU American Legion Aux. 12 and served as president, and for many years Girls' State chairman. She was also District I Americanism chairman. She belonged to USU Faculty League where she served on many committees including newcomers' chairman. She was on many PTA boards and also served as the vice president and secretary/treasurer of the Marriner Wood Merrill DUP. She had also served in the Relief Society, Sunday School and Primary in the various wards and branches.
Marianne considered her greatest achievement to be her four children who survive her: Renee White (Colin) of Honolulu, Hawaii; Karen Wood (Steven) of Seattle, Wash.; Diane Hamilton (Jay) of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; Steve Poulson (Christy) of Draper, Utah. She is also survived by her husband Jay G. and 11 grandchildren: Ben and Cheryl White; Nicole, Sean, Luke, Drew and Jillian Hamilton; Matthew and Caroline Williams; Grace and Sophie Poulson; and brother, Dr. Robert B. Gibbons (Jackie), of Denver, Colo.
We would like to express our gratitude for the many kind thoughts expressed by family and friends over the past few days. We would also like to thank Sunbrook Home Health and Hospice for their efforts to assist Marianne.
Viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Monday, April 12, at Allen-Hall Mortuary in Logan. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Logan city cemetery.